Brew Now or Never: How to Start Home Brewing and Never Look Back.
For many years the great art of craft beer making has been steeped in decades of tradition and history. Home brewing has gained immense popularity in recent years due to its simplicity, affordability, and the creative possibilities it gives brewers to express themselves. For those of us that have ever dreamed of making our own beer, it is time to dust off those kettles and make it happen. So follow along and grab your gear, for it’s time to brew now or never!
For those new to home brewing, it is important to understand the basics. Firstly, there are two major systems for brewing beer; All-Grain and Extract. In extract brewing, the brewer takes pre-made malt concentrate and combines it with water and hops to create beer. This is a simplified version of the all-grain process, which entails the brewer using the actual grains (barley, wheat, rye, etc.) and crushing them so the enzymes in the grains can generate unfermented sugars. Extract brewing requires less equipment, skills, and time and is a great place to start for those wanting to dip their feet into the home brewing waters.
Home brewing equipment is essential for creating a good quality batch. The basic setup includes a fermenter, gas bottle and regulator, kettle, sparging bucket, bottles, airlock and corks. A more advanced setup includes a mash tun and hot liquor tank, but these are not necessary for those just beginning. Once your setup is complete, you are ready to brew!
Now that the fundamentals have been established, let’s move on to the fun part – making the beer! The process of brewing beer can be broken down into five simple steps. Firstly, the malt is milled and added to the hot liquor tank and water. This is then heated and transferred to the mash tun. The mash is then left to sit for an hour, allowing the enzymes in the malt to produce sugar and convert the starches into fermentable sugars.
Once the mash is complete, it is then transferred to the kettle and boiled for an hour. The addition of hops takes place during this boiling stage, and the hops can be adjusted to create a desired flavor or bitterness profile. Finally, the wort (unfermented beer) is transferred to the fermenter and left to sit while the yeast goes to work and turns the wort into beer. After a few days, the beer is then bottled and prepared to be enjoyed!
Home brewing is not only rewarding, but it can also create unique and personalised beers. By combining different grain, yeast, and hops varieties, the brewer can tailor their beer to their desired flavour and character. Experimentation and creativity are welcomed!
Finally, all that’s left is to bottle and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Brewing can be a very fun and rewarding process and can teach you a lot about the techniques and science of brewing beer. Home brewing can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be, and for those looking for a hobby, you are sure to find something that you will love. So grab your kettles, your grains, and your hops and start brewing your own craft beers today – Brew now or never!